[Chesire]

Last episode I was battling a few insidious creatures whose primary goal was to bring distraction and inertia to my life.  I had success with one, but I knew the other would be a more lengthy battle.  So, here we are today and I've decided I must bring the battle to the critter itself.  To do so I must hunt it out, quest for its hiding place.   This is a change for me.  Usually I let things come to me or external requirement drive my responses. 

 

This little bugger .  The Ignoraminx.  (To recap:  A wily animal that sneaks around the edges of thought.  It gently sings the alluring suggestion that learning is hard work and unnecessary.  It values idling in what you already know and convincing its victim that education efforts are pointless.  Maybe just give up that thing that requires education?  That sounds easier.  )  If I seek it out, rather than letting it come upon me unawares, I should be more able to defeat it instead of just outmaneuvering to survive. 

 

         Method:  I will finish another CE class within the first two weeks of the challenge, then turn my efforts to the work related education I've been avoiding. (4 focused times per week)

 

I have to strengthen and train as a hero as I hunt.  I can only be as able as I have trained myself to be, both in body and mind.  Therefor a proper hero's regimen must be scheduled. 

 

        Method:  I'm revisiting the DB Hero's Journey again.  I have wedding v2.0 at the end of May.  Prior to v1.0 I did the same program and was thrilled with the positive effects on my posture, but two years of slumping at a computer or on the couch or under generalized stress heaviness has had some effects.  Since this is my second time through HJ I'm upping the level a bit by doing two weapon's instead of one.  Bonus this does tie in quite well with the NF body weight program and my pull-up goals.  One tweak.  I will likely switch up their cardio days for running days.  (At least 4 times per week)

 

But I must not lose the skills I fought hard for last challenge.  I must maintain my focus of advancing and mastering the creative skills I've learned. 

 

          Method: continue to practice Tunisian crochet and pick one new sewing project to plod away at.  (goal is 4 times but the  bar is low)

 

Finally, the surprise twist that came out of nowhere which turned out to be very important.  Finding a new keep to call our own. 

 

        Method:  paint one bedroom ceiling and patch/paint the other.  I should have time for this.  Get the paint needed for bedroom walls.  Start if time, but don't over-stress myself.  1 hour will be spent each weekend day by each of us, purging and paring down stuff, and packing stuff that is rarely needed. 

[Chesire]

                  Su   M   T   W  Th  F  Sa

3️⃣pt     ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜   ⚔️Hero's Journey program - lifting stuff

2️⃣pt     ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜  🦨  Ignoraminx sought -learning stuff

1️⃣pt     ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜   🧶  skills kept - crafting creating stuff

1️⃣pt     ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜   🏡  house prepping - painting stuff

 

I'm doing stuff this week, but not counting it.  I know me.  I'll slack later. 

[Chesire]

Almost forgot an important detail to one of those tasks.  If I don't stretch at the end of the workout, even for a quick3-5 min, no points.  I need to stop skipping cool down stretching.

[Bean Sidhe]

This is a very well thought out challenge and I understand how some critters just need to be dealt with. Good luck in your quest to deal with this nasty little guy.

[Emissary2Ornj]

Wow, you're really facing down the continuing ed! I know the avoidance technique well. Funny how it never works. 😆🙄🤔

[Chesire]

I'm not going to do check boxes for zero week, but that doesn't mean I've been slacking off. 

 

Did all my hero training so far for the week.  I only did one  run, but it was the first in months so DOMS happpened, and it was gross outside, and I'm sure another very good reason.  😆  I did do the cardio that the program called for instead.

 

Haven't touched CE but as soon as I check in with my nerds I'll do some studying over coffee. 

 

I haven't put any time at all into crafty stuff, but I swear I have a really good reason.   Focus has been stolen by house stuff.  I know me.  The first week of something always sucks up all my focus, so I'm betting next week there will be some time put into crafting.

 

And last and biggest for this week has been house-related all-the-things.  Filling holes, painting ceilings, fixing caulking and grout for one part of things.  Purging and packing up personal things with the idea that whatever is done now doesn't need to stress us out later. (I was that person in group projects who wanted to get things done early.)  In an effort to not waste energy eventually moving things we aren't attached to, while watching tv last night we went through all the Christmas decoration boxes and played "Does this spark holiday joy?" 

 

boxes will officially start tomorrow for some serious training. 

[Chesire]

I have found an evening sweet snack I can work with and feel ok-ish about!  Sweet breakfast cereal.  It's fortified so I get more nutrition than I would from, lets say cookies, and I eat a smaller amount than the serving size, and it fills my munchie wants.  I'm good with these things.

[Emissary2Ornj]

Ha, I like that hack! And you get all the crunchy texture feedback, too (assuming you eat it dry).

 

[Bean Sidhe]

The cereal is a great idea for the sweet tooth moments.

I hope you got through a good chunk of the holiday decorations.

[Chesire]

Oh, yes.  It's all about the crunchy. 

 

We did manage to clear out a fair bit of holiday stuff.  It's amazing the amount of stuff you have not necessarily because you like it, but because it was grandma's.  Sorry grandma, I didn't like this thing very much and the only reason I have it is because my mom couldn't bear to throw it out and I was being nice.

 

If I never paint a ceiling again I will be a happy person.  Even if the payoff is always worth it. 

 

Otherwise not too much to report.  I organized my sewing patterns.  I've been meaning to do that for ages and took advantage of my current house-organizing energy to do. 

[Emissary2Ornj]

Ceilings, oof-dey!

It's always fun exploring those made-up obligations to other people for keeping stuff. Sometimes it's worth it to keep something totally useless b/c of whatever meaning we attach to it, and sometimes it's just funny and ridiculous. And, of course - it changes over time. I rarely regret getting rid of something, though.

I'm impressed and satisfied at the thought of organized sewing patterns. Even someone else's.

[Chesire]

I'm still playing along!  It's just been a ridiculously busy week.  Will check in soon, for reals

[Chesire]

Whooh, Nelly, it's been a jam-packed few weeks.  I didn't realize I hadn't done any check-ins in that time!  So much painting.  And then a crazy work thing that took up too much time and energy.  Anyway, let's see how those weeks added up given that I feel like I kinda went off the trail for a bit.

 

Week 1:

                 Su   M   T   W  Th  F  Sa

3️⃣pt     ✅✅✅✅⬜1️⃣1️⃣   ⚔️Hero's Journey program - lifting stuff  14 pts

2️⃣pt     ⬜✅⬜⬜✅✅⬜  🦨  Ignoraminx sought -learning stuff  6pts

1️⃣pt     ⬜✅⬜⬜✅✅✅   🧶  skills kept - crafting creating stuff  4 pts

1️⃣pt     ✅✅⬜⬜✅✅1️⃣   🏡  house prepping - painting stuff  5 pts

total 29 / 28 pts 

 

and then week 2 was nuts:

 

                  Su   M   T   W  Th  F  Sa

3️⃣pt     ✅✅✅⬜⬜✅⬜   ⚔️Hero's Journey program - lifting stuff  -12pts

2️⃣pt     ⬜🏁⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜  🦨  Ignoraminx sought -learning stuff -passed test, double pts  -4 pts

1️⃣pt     ✅⬜⬜⬜⬜✅✅   🧶  skills kept - crafting creating stuff  3pts

1️⃣pt     ✅✅✅⬜⬜✅⬜   🏡  house prepping - painting stuff  4pts

total  23/ 28.  Honestly I didn't realize I'd done that much.  Between that and stupid grumble grumble trade show at work, it's no surprise that Sunday I was good for nothing.  Like literally.  I can't recall the last time I felt so spent and couldn't even focus on a book or game. 

 

Fresh and shiny new week and new outlook.  Let's see how far afield I wandered when I lost the Ignoraminx's trail.  I've got it now though. 

 

This week I'll spend some time learning sewing machine stuff at home for sales and at work I'll start my 'apprenticeship' as a machine tech starting with cleaning and care of the machine I brought it.

 

I will spend some time copying a sewing pattern so I can do the necessary fitting adjustments on a dress for the rehearsal dinner. 

 

House stuff continues.  Might be time to start putting away cold weather sweaters.  But besides generalized packing and prepping, I think all 'my' major work is done. 

 

I may need one more recovery day before returning to full Hero's Journey plan.  There was way too much "This is heavy.  Get Chesire and The Other Strong Woman to move this."  while we were loading, unloading, and loading and unloading again the last few days.  And don't forget to be cheerful for customer service!  and ugh.  gratifying that I can be one of the strong team but exhausting.  Yep, convinced myself.  One more rest day.  Maybe just a nice walk.

[Chesire]

Good grief.  It has been a week. 

 

I didn't really recover from all that crap until Thursday.  I was a decent human and tested for covid after that trade show last weekend.  All clear! But I can promise this week's check boxes are going to be pretty empty.  And that's just how it's going to be.  I finally was able to exercise, officially (I should count all that box moving but I'm not)  for the first time since last Friday. It felt good to get out and run.  Though Zombies, Run! hit me with more zom chases than anticipated.

 

                  Su   M   T   W  Th  F  Sa

3️⃣pt     ⬜⬜⬜⬜✅⬜⬜   ⚔️Hero's Journey program - lifting stuff  3pt

2️⃣pt     ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜  🦨  Ignoraminx sought -learning stuff

1️⃣pt     ✅✅⬜⬜✅⬜⬜   🧶  skills kept - crafting creating stuff  3 pt

1️⃣pt     ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜   🏡  house prepping - painting stuff

 

yep.  That's it. 

 

Have I put in writing that T and W are almost always going to be limited check days since work and then dog walking takes up so much time.  I need to keep that in mind as I fill these out.

[Emissary2Ornj]

It sounds like you expended a lot of energy where you had to, this week. You don't need me to tell you that's okay, but I will anyway. That's okay! Also, tracker boxes are sometimes frustratingly not able to accurately represent the whole picture. (I'm running into this with some things I'm tracking, too.)

I do like how it feels to get an intentional workout in after not being able to for a few days. Glad your enjoyed that!

[Chesire]

12 hours ago, Emissary2Ornj said:

That's okay! Also, tracker boxes are sometimes frustratingly not able to accurately represent the whole picture. (I'm running into this with some things I'm tracking, too.)

exactly!  That's my key reason for writing out notes in all the places.  If I look back I want to know the whole story.

 

I should also add and edit to that last one that I donated blood on Fri during that busy time and that absolutely took its toll.

 

On a different note;  I'm this 🤏 close to my battle log goal of 2 sets of 2 pull ups.  I just need that extra little toe touch of a boost to get there. 

[Chesire]

Almost forgot to share this. It was an almost appropriate sight to see during a zombies, run! run.  Also this run was the first time I managed under 12 min/ mile for 3 miles this year!

 

 

[Chesire]

Okay.  Here's the thing.    (Ugh, don't you hate it when you pick up speech patterns from people.  It's always the ones you don't like- either speech or people.  LOL)    Here's the hand gesture that goes with it too. 

How do I stop it??  Anyway...

 

 

Another week of no 🦨 work.  I've thought about it and  it's because when I started this quest I made plans with the information I had, but along the route a side-quest was discovered.  This side-quest is definitely more important to follow right now.  It will give me more tools to more successfully defeat that critter later. 

 

 

given this new information I will be making a slight change in the program.  🦨 is on hold and 🐈‍⬛ has been activated.  🐈‍⬛ is about moving out of here and, for now, living with my parents while we search for a house.  (Stupid housing market that basically requires you to have no contingencies whatsoever) .  And!  this also involves backdating my last few weeks points because this is important and there I must recognize all efforts.  I wasn't avoiding work, I was working on a new quest. 

 

Stay tuned for the revisited points, coming soon. 

[Chesire]

Side quest corrected format:

 

                   Su   M   T   W  Th  F  Sa

3️⃣pt     ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜   ⚔️Hero's Journey program - lifting stuff

2️⃣pt     ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜  🐈‍⬛ the quest for a new castle- moving stuff

1️⃣pt     ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜   🧶  skills kept - crafting creating stuff

1️⃣pt     ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜   🏡  house/life upkeep- maintaining stuff

 

 

 

week-ending April 16 (wk 3) redo

                 Su   M   T   W  Th  F  Sa

3️⃣pt     ⬜⬜⬜⬜✅✅✅   ⚔️Hero's Journey program - lifting stuff  9pt

2️⃣pt     ⬜✅⬜⬜✅✅✅  🐈‍⬛ the quest for a new castle- moving stuff 8pt

1️⃣pt     ✅✅⬜⬜✅✅✅   🧶  skills kept - crafting creating stuff  5 pt

1️⃣pt     ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜✅✅   🏡  house/life upkeep- maintaining stuff 2pt

24/ 28 points 

 

wk 4 so far

 

                   Su   M   T   W  Th  F  Sa

3️⃣pt     ✅❌⬜✅✅⬜⬜   ⚔️Hero's Journey program - lifting stuff

2️⃣pt     ✅✅✅✅⬜⬜⬜  🐈‍⬛ the quest for a new castle- moving stuff

1️⃣pt     ✅✅⬜⬜✅⬜⬜   🧶  skills kept - crafting creating stuff

1️⃣pt     ✅⬜⬜⬜✅⬜⬜   🏡  house/life upkeep- maintaining stuff

22/28 so far

❌= someone neglected stretching after a run.  0️⃣ points that day

 

This is a fun side-quest, but a lot of work.  Hopefully I will only need to repeat it once any time soon.

[Asha Phoenix]

5 hours ago, Chesire said:

🐈‍⬛ is about moving out of here and, for now, living with my parents while we search for a house.  (Stupid housing market that basically requires you to have no contingencies whatsoever)

I feel ya on that one! D and I are in the same boat. Recently he's been looking at land to possibly build on instead, so we'll see how long we end up being here...lol. (Especially with the crazy stupid market) How are you feeling about living with your parents while you search for your own place?

[Chesire]

On 4/22/2022 at 1:10 PM, Asha Phoenix said:

How are you feeling about living with your parents while you search for your own place?

I'm completely comfortable, and MrC is starting to accept it just might not be too bad.  We saw my brother and nephew (my big little monster) and brother and I were talking about how easy it really is living with my parents as adults; so that helped a lot.  They are super good at treating it way more like roommates and recognizing we're adults.  Mom mostly just wants to know if we'll be home for dinner and dad wants to know who's up for golf 🤣  Oh, and my dad is super excited to have a dog in the house again! 

 

Other related things:

We've decided on our transition date when we move all the important stuff.  Computers, underwear, cat, and dog.  Most of the rest can still be dealt with as soon as we are able, but are not necessary immediately.  T-minus two weeks. 

 

Today is renting a moving truck and shifting bigger furniture like the dining set and whatever else I can cram in Tetris-style to his mom's basement.  Don't be jealous.  I know it's super fun. 

 

Later this week will be cramming the things we know we'll need soon but not right now (like wedding attire) into my car  so I can drop it off on my way to work. 

Can I just say how excited I am that my commute will drop my about 90% while we are with them.  So. Excited.   The timing is perfect since our machine tech just let the boss know that she doesn't know how much longer she'll be with us, so my tech training is going to start in earnest.  I'll be able to go in for 2 hours at a time without spending a fortune in gas. 

 

Just realized start of next challenge will see me in a new fortress/base of operation/ camp?  Wonder how that will change things for me. 

[Chesire]

You know what....  I'm not tracking that last week.  I had a cold so I didn't have the gumption to do much.  I'll just respect that and not worry about it.  I'm sure my points put me solidly in a C/C+ range.  It's been a rough challenge with outlying forces coming into play.  It's all good.

 

I wrapped up this week with a quilting weekend retreat where I made a dress for the rehearsal.  I needed the down time for sure.  Pics eventually. 

 

Next challenge starts with our living-transition weekend.  I think that one will be pretty minimal goals.  I'm leaning towards maintaining my eating while living with my parents.  They haven't seen my new habits, so that might be interesting.  Otherwise the goal will be to get most of our stuff out and the house on the market.  Eep!

 

[Emissary2Ornj]

Wow, it seemed like things happened really fast for you once the house change got decided. Congrats on your ability to adapt and deal with the most immediate things going this challenge.